Picture frame



March 23, 1943. R. NEAL PICTURE FRAME Filed April 22, 1941 Patented Mar. 23,1943

This invention relates to improvements in picture frames and more particularly contemplates the novel combination of a. picture frame and a sound recording disc.

It is an object of the invention to provide a picture frame which includes as a partthereof,

: preferably atthe front face of the frame, a'sound recording disc portion which is particularly adapted, if so desired, for the purpose of record ing the person's voice whose picture the frame holds. Thus the picture frame of my invention, in addition to its normal-function. of retaining the picture, possesses the additional novel function of receiving and carrying a vocal or sound recording which may be in the form of a message of some kind to the recipient of the picture, the frame being adapted to be supported on the turntable of the phonograph for sound reproduction of the message. It will be apparent that the devices of my invention may be produced for the market with a blank sound recording portion upon which the purchaser whose picture will be inserted in the frame may impress his voice recording by means of any recording machine now commonly in use or the devices may be provided completely with a picture of a well-known personage, for example, and a sound recording of his or her voice or some other appropriate message. 7

It is a further object of the invention to provide a combination picture frame and sound recording disc wherein the disc has the additional function of retaining the picture in the frame thus to comprise a structural part of the picture frame.

' Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawing wherein preferred structural embodiments of the principles of the invention have been selected for exempliflcation.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a front elevational view of a picture frame as contemplated by the invention; I

Figure 2 is avertical section of the device of Figure 1 taken on the lines 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view illustrating the manner in which a. frame of my invention may be positioned on the turntable of a recorder or phonograph for the impression of a sound record upon the disc or for reproduction of the sound recording carried by the disc;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view partly in section of a modified form of the invention.

Referring moreparticularlyvto the drawing, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, numeral I0 designates in its entirety a picture frame constructed according to my invention and retaining a picture P, usually a portrait. While the frame III has been illustrated as having a circular configuration, it will be understood that the frame may have any other desired configuration provided the sound recording portion remains substantially circular or disc-like in form.

In the form of the invention illustrated in l ig-- ures 2 and 8, the frame i0 is composed of a front face member I2 which may in its entirety be formed of wax or any suitable sound recording material, or which may have the central portion only thereof formed of such material, as indi-' cated at ll. The front member [2 is provided at its inner edge with an inwardly extending offset portion which may take the form of a flange IQ for retaining the usual protective glass cover It for holding the picture in position. The. outer edge of the front member I2 is similarly provided with a laterally extending offset portion I5 which, together with the body portion ll .of

the member l2, forms a pocket for reception of the picture 1-".

' The form of the invention shown in Figures 2 and ,3 contemplates the provision of a separablebacking structure 20 provided with a forwardly extending elongated peripheral flange portion 22 the forward ends of which are adapted to engage a picture mounting plate 24. A securing band. 28 is adapted toform the outer periphery of the frame and at its front edge is provided with an inwardly bent flange 28 for engaging the portion I5 of the front face member I2 and at its rearward edge is provided with inwardly bent tabs or resilient members 30 for engaging the rear surface of backing structure 20. It will be apparent from Figure 2 that the band 26 operates as a clamp to secure the front member I2 and the backing structure 20 together with the picture mounting plate 24 secured between the extensions 22 of the backing structure and the por= tion i5 ofthe. front face member l2, with the picture P secured between the mounting plate 24 and the intermediate-portion ll of the front member l2, and with the glass l8 secured between the picture P and the flange IQ of the I front member l2.

20 as at 34. The leg members 32 may be swung outwardly along the pivot 34 so as to support the frame in easel fashion, as on a table, for example, and the recessed back 20 is arranged to receive the leg portions 32 when they are swung inwardly so that the back of the frame will present a planar surface whereby it may be flatly positioned upon the turntable of the phonograph, as indicated in Figure 4.

The leg members 32 are preferably provided at their converging ends with a web-like reinforcing portion 36 which, in turn, is provided with an aperture 38 for the insertion of a phonograph turntable shaft. The body portion of the back centrally thereof and in alignment with the aperture 38 is also apertured or provided with a pocket 40 into which the upper extremity of the turntable shaft will project. The flanges 22 of the back 20 and the peripheral band 28 are of such size to provide the frame II) with sufficient depth that when the frame in is positioned upon a phonograph turntable, the shaft thereof "will terminate short of the forward portion of the frame so that the planar back portion of the frame may rest flush against the turntable surface in a manner similar to the conventional sound record discs. The sound recording portion H of the frame, however, while elevated above the turntable, will be in position to receive the tone arm needle, whereby a sound record'may be produced on the disc or whereby the sound record thereon may be reproduced.

The various elements of the frame as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and as above described may conveniently be formed of sheet metal bent or stamped into suitable structural configuration, or the elements thereof may be molded from any desired plastic material.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Figure 5, the frame 10 may be integrally formed as by molding whereby the clamping ring 28 and other separable parts of the first form of the invention may be dispensed with. In this modification of the invention. the front member 42 which carries the sound recording portion 44 maybe formed integrally with the picture mounting plate 48 or the two members may be secured together at their lower portions, leaving a slot 48 at the top thereof for insertion of the picture P.

Herein the front member 42 is also provided with the flange portion 50 for retaining the glass I8. Instead of a separable backing member, the modified form of the invention contemplates the provision of a rearwardly extending peripheral flange 52 the edges of which terminate in a planar surface. Supporting legs M, which may be similar to the legs 32 illustrated in Figures 2 and 8, are in this instance pivoted as at 58 to an arm which extends the width of the frame. The legs 54, like the legs 32, are similarly provided with a suitable aperture for receiving a phonograph turntable shaft which will project into the space bounded by the flanges 52, the depth of the frame being such that the shaft will terminate short of the front portion of the frame.

It will be understood that the forms of the invention herein particularly described and illustrated are exemplary only of the principles of the invention, which embrace such modified structures as come within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A :picture frame comprising in combination a front face member including a sound recording portion, a separable backing structure, the said backing structure having a central aperture for reception of a. phonograph turntable shaft, and means for securing said front member and backing structure together.

2. A picture frame comprising in combination a front face member including a sound recording portion, a separable backing structure, the said backing structure having a central aperture for reception of a phonograph turntable shaft and a peripheral band having portions engaging said front member and said backing member for securing the'same together.

3. A picture frame comprising in combination a front face member including a sound recording portion, a separable backing structure, the said backing structure having peripheral flanges extending forwardly to space the backing structure a substantial distance from said front face memher, the said backing structure being provided with means to receive the turntable shaft of a phonograph.

4. A picture frame comprising in combination a front member for bordering a picture positioned within the frame, the front face of said member including a sound recording portion, and abacking structure connected to said front member and cooperating with said front member for retaining the picture within the frame, the said backing structure having a portion spaced a substantial distance from said frontmember, said portion of the backing structure carrying means to embrace the turntable shaft of the phonograph.

5. A picture frame comprising, in combination, a front member for bordering a picture positioned within the frame, the front face of said member including a sound recording portion and a backmg structure connected to said front member and cooperating with said front member for retaining the picture within the frame, the said backing structure having a. central aperture for reception of a phonograph turntable shaft.

ROBERT NEAL. 

